Finland is famous for its lakes and Santa Claus. We chose to visit the lakes... We found a cheap hut in the small town of Oravi adjacent Linnasarri National Park, a network of over 100 islands. Unfortunately we booked to arrive on the only day the bus didn't go there. Helsinki, not being the most exiting town, was forsaken and we headed out to the lakes a day early. The hostel with the hut had told us they would find somewhere for us if we came but they we full when we arrived. They had little choice but to offer us accommodation in a lakeside house, complete with sauna, outdoor bbq, own jetty and boat. The pains of travelling hey! We enjoyed oven roasted food, a sauna complete with regular jumps into the lake and fireplace that evening before heading back to the hostel to take up the hut.

The hostel had since double booked our hut for the next night, so, given the decent weather and that they hired camping gear, we decided to spend the next two nights camping on the main island. The camping ground was brilliant and the forest and shoreline spectacular. The season was right for berries and we spent a lot of time picking (and gorging on) wild berries, including strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. mmmm... Michael had also hired a fishing rod and lures and spent some time in the search of fish, eventually finding a nice pike and half a dozen perch. mmmm...

Our last day we hired a canoe and rowed round the many lakes. All in all, Linnassari has been one of the nicest places of the trip and was made even better by some good fortune.